Back to top

Executive Director

This job is no longer available

The Board of Trustees of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West is searching for a dynamic leader to be its next Executive Director. The role focuses on bringing a contemporary perspective to managing all public and private aspects of the Museum in support of the Museum’s mission.

Areas of Responsibility: 

About the Position

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Executive Director is responsible for implementing the Museum’s mission; ensuring its financial sustainability; increasing and substantially widening its audience and community support; and expanding key internal and external relationships, among other duties. The Executive Director oversees the Museum’s leadership team while focusing on the following major areas:

  • Marketing focused on a more diverse audience
  • Membership Development with benefits that are seen as valuable
  • Strategic direction in the development of Programs and Exhibitions that attract and appeal to today’s audiences
  • Education and Public Programs to create a vibrancy within the Museum
  • Fundraising and Community Development
  • Finance
  • Facilities and Operations

In collaboration with the Board, the Executive Director will lead the Museum staff in the development, implementation, and oversight of the Museum’s artistic, curatorial, development and financial strategies. The Executive Director leads a team working to further position the Museum for near-term and long-term success as it continues to expand and grow its position as the leading museum of Western arts and culture embracing the spirit of the West.

About the Museum

Opened in January 2015, the Museum is housed in an architecturally distinctive and LEED Gold certified building built in the heart of Old Scottdale’s art district. The building, exhibits and programs are presented with a mission to boldly immerse Museum visitors in the unique story of the American West. Its vision is to celebrate the West by offering high quality exhibitions, educational programs and community outreach. It seeks to address regional history, particularly as reflected by the art and the dynamic cultural exchanges that have marked the transition of the Old West into the New West. TripAdvisor ranks it as one of the top five attractions in Scottsdale and #1 Museum in Scottsdale. Scottsdale is visited by more than 11 million people annually.

The Museum’s exhibits include premier works of art including sculpture, paintings, photographs, and other western artifacts in the Museum’s 43,000 square feet of gallery space. Plans are underway for an additional 11,000 square feet of gallery space with additional common support space. Groundbreaking for the expansion is expected in late 2023. The Museum expects to add several major collections of western art and artifacts during 2023. We believe these additions to the collection, and others, will further make the Museum a preferred destination for visitors from throughout the country and internationally. Full funding for the building expansion has been secured from donors. A capital campaign is planned for late 2023 to provide further resources to support these expanded exhibits.

The Museum includes a sculpture garden and auditorium that is suitable for business meetings and community events. Part of the opportunity with the Museum is to develop the use of this space by the broader community as a source of revenue and awareness of the Museum.

The City of Scottsdale owns the museum’s building and the Museum is operated under a longterm management agreement with the City. The City is also an important financial supporter of the Museum.

The Museum is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization and is a Smithsonian Affiliate museum.

The Museum’s web site can be found at https://scottsdalemuseumwest.org/

Educational Background: 
Bachelor Degree
Skills/Experience: 

The Successful Candidate will have the following experience and background

Past success in expanding the visitor and membership base of an arts, cultural, or entertainment-based organization. Has succeeded in building an audience by catering to a broad demographic and range of interests.

Proven ability in handling a variety of functional areas and managing leaders in the following areas:

  • Finance and administration; experience with budgeting and holding an organization accountable for budget performance
  • Strategic collection management with an emphasis on meeting long-term exhibit and programming goals
  • Maintaining and improving an employee culture based on collaboration, respect, and customer experience
  • Fundraising—earned, contributed, partner-based, grants and endowment
  • Facility and operations management
  •  Educational outreach and programs appealing to today`s diverse audiences
  • Marketing knowledge of today’s desires and goals of our target audiences
  •  Enhanced Visitor experience
  • Experience in growing an organization with a small professional staff; Exhibits a willingness to get involved in the details when needed
  • Demonstrated evidence of developing innovative strategies to meet organizational goals with a history of turning strategies into positive results.

 

The Successful Candidate will be expected to provide leadership in all aspects of the Museum’s programs and operations and will have the following competencies:

  • Displays a sense of urgency in leading the staff in developing and implementing new exhibitions and programs
  • Possesses extensive experience with fundraising and development activities; Comfortable meeting with major potential donors
  • Positively represents the Museum in the broad community including with civic and political leaders and Trustees
  • Embraces cultural change and can inspire the staff in implementing needed changes
  • Understands the need to balance the mission of a not-for-profit organization with the need to sustain the organizational programs through profitable year to year management
  • Works closely and constructively with an engaged Board that is heavily invested in the programs and vision of the Museum

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

  • 7-10 years relevant leadership experience working in an established arts, cultural or entertainment organization
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution– MBA preferred. A degree in an art-related field is considered a plus
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, including active listening skills and strong presentation skills
  • Strong interpersonal skills and self-confidence and the ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships
  • A leader able to command respect , supervise, motivate, and develop staff
  • Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus

Work Schedule

The Museum is open six days per week plus occasional nights for functions

Compensation/Benefits: 

$180,000 yearly

Organization Info

Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West

Overview
Headquarters: 
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
About Us
Mission: 

Our Mission:
Scottsdale’s Museum of the West boldly immerses its guests in the unique story of the Greater Western region, illuminating the past to shape our future.

Our Vision:
Scottsdale’s Museum of the West celebrates the West and its importance by informing, educating, inspiring, and engaging museum guests. We offer high-quality exhibitions, educational programs, and community outreach addressing regional history, particularly as reflected by the arts and the dynamic cultural exchanges that have marked the transition of the Old West into the New West.

Our Partners:
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West is owned by the City of Scottsdale and managed and operated by Scottsdale Museum of the West, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. We rely upon private support including tax-deductible contributions, memberships, exhibition and program sponsorships, and private hosting of events to fund our operation. We work in partnership with Experience Scottsdale.

Awards & Accolades: 
Smithsonian Affiliate
Why Work For Us?: 

The museum, which opened in January of 2015, is located in Old Town, Scottsdale’s arts district at 3830 N. Marshall Way (one block west of Scottsdale Road, and one block south of Main Street). The rotating exhibitions feature hundreds of Western artworks, rare historic objects and cultural treasures on loan from some of the world’s foremost collectors and institutions.

Listing Stats

Post Date: 
Feb 28 2023
Active Until: 
Mar 28 2023
Hiring Organization: 
Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West
industry: 
Nonprofit